Manila: Court of Appeals Justice Martin Villarama Jr was sworn in yesterday as the newest Supreme Court (SC) justice, replacing Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago who retired

last month.

Villarama took his oath as the 166th SC justice even as another vacancy remains in the high tribunal following the retirement of Justice Leonardo Quisumbing last November 5.

The 63-year-old Villarama is the husband of SC En Banc Clerk of Court Ma Luisa Dizon-Villarama.

He was a perennial nominee by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and has been nominated nine times.

Villarama obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Manuel L Quezon University (MLQU) after graduating from De la Salle University with a degree in business administration.

He began his law career as a technical assistant in the Legal Research Division, now Office of the Chief Attorney, of the SC.

Before rejoining the judiciary in 1986, Villarama worked as legal counsel and corporate secretary for various companies.

He was appointed judge of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court in 1986 and served as Executive Judge from 1992 to 1996.

Villarama, who hails from Manila, was a recipient of the Ulirang Ama Award for Law and Judiciary and Katangi-tanging Anak ng Angat, Bulacan

in 2003.

He was promoted in March 1998 to the CA where he served as presiding chairman of the CA’s Fifth Division and supervising justice of the Judicial

Records Division.